Bayer joins John Deere in developing digital tools

Bayer CropScience and John Deere are working together to integrate data access, wireless data transmission, and delivery of prescription recommendations to help farmers optimize yields and return on investment. The collaboration will enable Bayer CropScience and John Deere to provide data-enabled decision-support tools for farmers.

Beginning in 2014, in cooperation with retail and distributor partners, Bayer CropScience will initiate R&D-based field pilots designed to use agronomic data to prescribe Bayer CropScience products to maximize yield potential and overall profitability on each acre. Bayer CropScience's digital farming initiatives promote the creation and delivery of value-driven integrated solutions to farmers by leveraging new technologies and data availability to improve farm effectiveness and efficiency.

"Our intent is to leverage the agronomic strengths of Bayer CropScience and channel partners, combined with the precision-enabled equipment and the MyJohnDeere decision support platform offered by John Deere, to enable farmers to move from precision agriculture to decision agriculture," said Shane Hand, Bayer CropScience Digital Farming Strategic Marketing Lead.

Bayer CropScience's digital farming initiatives are designed to link agronomics, product performance and best management practices, while utilizing variable-rate and wirelessly connected technology offered by John Deere precision machinery. By integrating these elements, the two companies hope to enhance sustainable value at the farmer level and increase yields.

Through its John Deere FarmSight strategy, John Deere is creating a solutions ecosystem to enable agricultural customers to be more productive, experience greater uptime, and lower the cost of operation while improving yield. An important component of this strategy is MyJohnDeere; a comprehensive information platform enabling the management of equipment data, production data and farm operations. This online platform allows farmers to analyze yield variability, access decision support tools and collaborate with their agronomic advisors to improve their bottom line.

"The MyJohnDeere open platform gives farmers the opportunity to see the performance of their operations and collaborate with agronomic and business partners to optimize their production and costs. Bayer CropScience and John Deere share the commitment to optimize farmer returns while honoring the foundational principles of data management and stewardship," says Pat Pinkston, Vice President Technology and Information Solutions, John Deere.